Wear preventer



June 7, 1932. D. R. RADFORD WEAR PREVENTER Filed Feb. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l [/VVEA/TOR.

6 TZOR/VEY June 7, 1932. D R D Q 1,861,815

WEAR PREVENTER Filed Feb. 9, 1951 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 7, I932 UNITEF STATES DOUGLAS R. RADFORD, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA WEAR rnnvnn'rnn Application filed February 9, v193 1. Serial No. 514,647.

My invention relates to a wear preventer for use on drill pipe of .well drilling equipment.

lVith the present wear preventers much difliculty is experienced in preventing them from travelling on the drill pipe.

It is an object of my invention to provide a wear preventer which has a portion which extends around the coupling or tool joint of the drill pipe, and restrains longitudinal movement on the drill pipe.

In the drawings to which I will refer in the course of the following detailed description of my invention:

Figure l is a sectional View of one form of my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sections taken on the corresponding lines of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-section through another form of my invention.

Figure ois a sectional view of still another form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Figure 7 is a partly sectioned elevational view of another embodiment of myinvention.

Figures 8 and 9 are sections taken on the corresponding lines of Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive 11 isa drill pipe or drill column, which according to standard practice has enlargements 12 which are couplings or tool joints for connecting the lengths of pipe together. This form of my invention has a centralizing or holding portion 14 and end portions 15. The centralizing or holding portion 14 consists of straps 16 adapted to conform to the contour of the external surface of the enlargement 12. At the ends of the enlargement 12 the straps 16 are curved inward as indicated at 17 in order that the end faces or shoulders 18 of the enlargement 12 will be engaged. The ends 19 of the straps extend into the end portions 15, being permanently secured thereto.

The end portions are made from a shockabsorbing or wear-receiving material such as rubber or rubber composition. Each of the end portions is provided in the form of a ring of this material, which is split as indi cated at 21. Each protector 15 has an inner cylindrical face 22 adapted to engage the drill pipe, and has an outer face 23 which is formed on a diameter greater than that of the enlargement 12. The outer face 23 may be cylindrical or it may be provided with longitudinal grooves, as indicated by dotted lines 24 in Fig. 2, these grooves permitting passage of rotary fluid upward around the drill pipe. It will be noted that the ends 19 of the straps 16 extend into the ringsand have the extreme end portions 25 thereof bent so as to form a good lock in the rings.

The wear preventer may be installed on the drill pipe by spreading apart the faces of the rings which form the split 21. When'spread sufiiciently the wear preventer may be placed on the drill pipe, and when released will return to substantially the shape shown in Figs.- 1 to 3. The wear preventer is then locked or secured to the drill pipe by securing means 26, which in this form of the invention are placed directly inside the end portions 15. Various forms of securing means may be provided, but for the purpose of illustration I have shown the securing means in the form of a strong wire, the ends of which are secured togetheras at 27.

In Fig. 4, I show another form of my invention in which the centralizing or holding portion 14 in lieu of being formed from a plurality of straps 16 is provided in two halves 30. These two halves are preferably disposed on opposite sides of the diametrical plane in which the split 21 is formed to facilitate spreading of the wear preventer in order to apply it to the drill pipe.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the securing means are placed at the exterior ends of the end portions 15. To permit of this construction the straps 16 are provided with projecting ends 32 which project outward from the ringsand which have outwardly bent end portions 33.

. In this form'of the invention it is possible to holding portion 14 from metal so that the enlargement 12 may be securely gripped and so that there will be no danger of the wear preventer slipping over the enlargement. It is possible, however, to make the holding portion 14 from a non-metallic material such as a very strong fabric or canvas. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 3 inclusive the securing means placed at the ends of the enlargement 12 will pull the engaged portions of the fabric inward into engagement with the end faces or shoulders 18 of the enlargement 12, and this will form the fabric to the external contour of the enlargement l2 and be effective in holding the wear preventer in place.

If the centralizing or holding portion 14 in the form of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is made from fabric it would then be advisable to make the projecting ends 32 in separate pieces of metal, in view of the fact that the fabric would not retain its shape and would not be satisfactory as an engageable portion for the securing means 34. It would also be desirable to place the ring portions 15 very close to the end faces 18 of the enlargement 12, in order that the end rings will cause the adjacent portions of the fabric to be pulled inward around the end face 18, thus acco-mplishing the same function as the securing means in the form shown in Fig. 1. p

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive the holding or centralizing means 14 is provided in two halves 37. Each half 37 has a portion 38 which conforms to the contour of the enlargement 12, the ends of the portion being curved inward at 39 to engage the faces 18. Extending outward from the curved portions 39 are ends 40 which are arcuated and fit the cylindrical outer face of the drill pipe. The two halves 37 are secured together at their opposite ends by hinge structures 41. These hinge structures 41 are provided by bending tongues extending laterally from the ends 40 ,into cylindrical shapes 42, and by pins 43 which extend through the openings of these formations 42.

Carried by the ends 40 are end portions 46 which are made in two parts 47, each part being carried by one of the ends 40. The end portions 46 are formed from a shockabsorbing or wear-receiving material as in the other forms of the invention, and have outer faces 48 which are formed on a diameter greater than that of the enlargements 12. In this form of the invention the face 48 may be cylindrical or may be corrugated-as indicated by the dotted lines 24 in Fig. 2.

IVhen the wear preventer is to be placed on the drill pipe the pins 43 of the upper and lower hinge structures 41 on one side of the wear preventer are removed so that the two complementary halves may be hingedly spread apart so that the wear preventer may be placed around the drill pipe. The two halves are then returned to a closed position and the pins 43 are installed, which secures the wear preventer to the drill pipe.

In all forms of my invention the essential elements are present. My invention pro vides an end portion which is a wear preventer portion formed integral with or attached to an adjacent centralizing or holding portion which is adapted to surround an enlargement on the drill pipe for preventing the wear preventer portion from moving longitudinally on the drill pipe. The wear preventer portion in each form of the invention is shown as being in two parts, one part being arranged at each end of the holding portion. This is not an essential form and it is witl in the scope of this invention to eliminate the wear preventer portion at either end of the holding portion. The preferable construction, however, is to provide double wear preventer portions connected together by a central holding portion.

I claim as my invention:

1.- In an apparatus of the class described the combination of: a column having an enlargement; a pair of wear-preventing means, one being placed on said column on each side of said enlargement; holding means connect ed to both of said wear-preventing means, and engaging said enlargement for holding said wear-preventing means from longitudinal movement; and securing means for securing said wear-preventing means and said holding means in place.

2(In an apparatus of the class described the combination of: a column having an enlargement; a pair of wear-preventing means, one being placed on said column on each side of said enlargement; holding means connectedto both of said wear-preventing means, and engaging faces formed on the opposite ends of said enlargement for holding said wear-preventing means from longitudinal movement; and securing means for securing said wear-preventing meansand said holding means in place.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 2nd day of February, 1981.

DOUGLAS It. RADFORI). 

